Match Report : 16/08/2014

A goal in either half saw the visitors take all three points on another disappointing afternoon for Colin Cooper's side.

Pools got off to a nervy start as Bury looked to attack from the off, piling pressure on and clearly looking to take advantage of any hangover from Tuesday night’s loss at Port Vale.

Cooper’s men spent much of the early part of the first half defending and working hard to keep the visitors at bay, with little to test Rob Lainton in the Bury goal.

A corner in from the right created an opening for Bury and Nathan Cameron pounced with a free header which went just wide of the far post.

Darren Holden gave Pools a lift with a burst down the left wing on 17 minutes, only for his final touch to bring the move to an end inside the area.

And, with the space vacated by Holden remaining open, Bury were able to exploit the space for the first goal. The visitors pushed on down the right where Ryan Lowe sent a cross in to the box which former Pools loan man Daniel Nardiello met to nod home from close range.

Bury’s pressure eased following the goal and Pools began to offer a little more going forward; Marlon Harewood even had the ball in the back of the net at one point only to see the linesman’s flag up as the ball went out of play in the build-up.

Pools had the best chance of the game to draw level when a move instigated by Brad Walker saw Stuart Parnaby shoot on goal. While his effort was blocked by Lainton, Marlon Harewood picked up the rebound but sent it high over the bar from close range.

Cooper’s side did look more assured by the half-time whistle with their nerves looking more settled but they had work to do in the second half if there were to get back into the game.

It was Bury who again started the half strongest with a couple of early crossed into the box; the first was headed over the bar by Tom Soares while Matthew Bates intercepted the second to concede a corner.

And then Ryan Lowe went close, jinking in to send a shot on goal from the edge of the box but Flinders reacted well to the strike, getting enough on it to tip it onto the woodwork and away from danger.

At the other end, Luke James did well to push forward into the box but he tried to square a ball for Harewood only to pass it into the feet of the defender who was able to clear and the Pools players thought they were level shortly after but the strike was ruled out, with Harewood offside as he put the ball in.

With Pools enjoying more of the possession, a mistake at the back by Matthew Bates allowed sub Danny Rose through one-on-one with Flinders and the Bury striker took his time to round the Pools keeper before placing the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0 on 73 minutes.

The second Bury goal signalled the end of any real chance of Pools getting back into the game, with the nerves back on show and less belief in the attack. And,while Pools did do most of the work for the remainder of the game, the visiting keeper had little to do and the game finished in defeat for Cooper's men.